Black Warrior

Black Warrior, merchant steamer that plied between New York City and Mobile, usually stopping at Havana, Cuba. Her seizure on Feb. 28, 1854, by Spanish authorities at Havana and the imposition of a $6,000 fine on the grounds that she had violated customs regulations nearly caused war between the United States and Spain. The South, anxious to secure Cuba, was ready for war, but the North refused to support the idea, and after the Black Warrior was released the excitement subsided.